Where Fiction Is the Reality…

Category Archives: Brandon Witt

If you’ve been a member of this community for any length of time, you know who Eric Arvin is. You know that life threw him a curveball, and you also know that he’s been the very definition of grace under pressure.

If you’ve been a member of this community for any length of time, you also know who Brandon Witt is. Brandon took it upon himself to help raise funds to purchase an essential piece of equipment for Eric’s continued health, and that goal has since been met!!! Woohoo, just in time for Christmas! <3 But there is still need in Eric’s on-going care, so if you can help, you can click HERE to donate.

Brandon’s campaign is this: the chance to be a character in one of his books! One anonymous donor has opted out of collecting on this great opportunity, so Brandon would like to offer one of YOU the chance to win that character spot.

Here’s a bit more about it in Brandon’s own words:

The winner of this raffle will be a character in one of Brandon Witt’s books. They can choose between being a prominently featured side character in one of his standalone novels, or a recurring character in a new series that is getting ready to launch. You could also be a main character in a short story. You will be involved with the character’s development and you and the character can be made as much like you as you are comfortable with. It will be a ton of fun!

All the proceeds for this went to Eric Arvin, who underwent brain stem surgery to remove a cavernous hemangioma. Eric entered into this procedure a strong, independent, handsome, and charismatic man. He was a voracious writer and beloved author. The world was truly opening up before him. He exited the surgery paralyzed from the neck down. Unable to move, take care of himself, or write his next novel. Through it all, Eric somehow managed to maintain his loving and compassionate nature. It is a rare occasion when he doesn’t make those around him laugh from his self-deprecating and sarcastic humor. Eric enriched countless people’s lives before he was paralyzed and has continued to do so ever since.

Though Eric has never lost his sincere kindness or charm, each day his limitations settle in a bit more. Just a couple of weeks ago, his doctors told him that he will never eat again and will get his nutrients intravenously for the rest of his life. It was one more blow in a seemingly endless string of defeats.

Eric requires around the clock care, more than what can be paid for or fully supplied. Eric’s family and friends have learned of the Quadriciser, a piece of therapy equipment that has the potential to change Eric’s life. The Quadriciser’s full body systems replicates the motion of walking, using both arms and legs. Not only does this keep muscles from atrophy, but it also stimulates the brain in the same way and creating the same effects as physical exercise. This machine will help Eric’s mental alertness, speech cognition, range of motion, and circulation, while decreasing pain, swelling, and depression.

Few of us can fathom what it would be like to loose the control and use of our bodies. It’s a reality that Eric faces every day.

So, there you have it, friends! One of you will have the opportunity to be a character in one of Brandon’s upcoming books! To enter for the chance to win, just click on the Rafflecopter widget, and you’ll be in the running.

Blurb: The death of his wife four years earlier left Travis Bennett a shell of the man he used to be. With his dog by his side, Travis raises his three children, manages his business, and works as a ranch hand. But every day, every minute, is an aching emptiness.

Wesley Ryan has fond memories of the small Ozark town of El Dorado Springs. Seeing it as a safe place to put his failed relationships behind him, Wesley moves into his grandparents’ old home and takes over the local veterinary clinic. An early morning visit from Travis and his dog stirs feelings that Wesley seeks to push away – the last thing he needs is to fall for a man with baggage and three kids as part of the package.

Life, it seems, has other plans.

Review: Then the Stars Fall is a gorgeous piece of writing by Brandon Witt. It was the first of his stories I’ve read – or, listened to, as the case may be – and it certainly will not be the last. It’s a big story. Very heavy at times, though there is also a good amount of levity to help balance it out. The story is beautiful, and complex; as such, it needed a certain kind of intensity brought to the narration, and I have to say that Andrew McFerrin does a superb job with the performance.

Wesley is trying to settle into his new life in El Dorado – the home of his beloved grandparents, who left him their house – and definitely is not looking for love. In fact, the plan was to swear off men entirely, for the time being anyway, after his recent, painful breakup. The plan was not to fall for a local, widowed father of three. Wesley never even saw Travis Bennett coming. Of course, the same can definitely be said of Travis…He absolutely did not see Wesley coming.

This book covers a lot of ground…family, loss, friendship, small town small-mindedness, homophobia, and ultimately, romance, love, and second chances…and has a variety of fabulous characters for you to love or hate (mostly love). Witt created a villain in John Wallace, whom McFerrin voiced with such venom that I actually cringed a few times when hearing him come into a scene. Without question, this is a book that will make you feel. Here are some of my actual notes from the audio about my feelings while listening!

Chapter 6 – I don’t like that he is downplaying the attack from John Wallace. I think he was right to feel threatened – there was a VERY aggressive advance, if not a full out sexual assault.

Blurb: The death of his wife four years earlier left Travis Bennett a shell of the man he used to be.With his dog by his side, Travis raises his three children, manages his business, and works as a ranch hand. But every day, every minute, is an aching emptiness. Continue reading →

Hi, everyone, and welcome back to see what we have in store for you in the coming week here at The Novel Approach.

It was a whirlwind weekend at GRL—lots of fun, lots of friends, and very little sleep—and I hope to see many of you next year in San Diego for GayRomLit 2015! A big congratulations also goes to Jilly Reads, who was the lucky winner of the Grand Prize giveaway of a Kindle Fire HD.

One of the highlights of the weekend, apart from spending time with authors and readers, was the chance to spend time with so many of my peers—Joyfully Jay, Susan Lee (Boys in our Books), Brandilyn Carpenter (Prism Book Alliance), Dani Elle Maas (Love Bytes), Heather and Nikyta from The Blogger Girls—everyone is just so lovely and so much fun. Not to mention I also got to hang out with my very own Jackie, Jules, and Kathie, which was a huge treat. And now it’s time to begin the countdown to the next GRL (it’s never too soon). Continue reading →

Sounds exciting right? Your favorite gay artists from the screen, canvas, and page all together in one convention. We even have guys whose bodies are works of art in themselves. Our events include art shows, book signings, nude modeling classes, demonstrations and panels galore. Anything you want to know in the realm of gay sexuality, you can find it here.

As amazing as our events are, however, they don’t compare to the juicy behind-the-scenes stories, the naughty liasons that happen on the other side of closed doors. This year, we’re fortunate to have a few authors open the curtains and give us a glimpse of HomoErotiCon under the covers: Continue reading →

Welcome back, everyone! Thanks for dropping by to see what we have in store for you in the coming week.

We’ve got some pretty amazing guests, featured posts and interviews, a cover reveal, giveaways, and a little GRL celebrating to do, on top of a week full of reviews.

Speaking of GayRomLit, on Saturday, August 30, the tables are turning just a bit, and I’ll be blogging on RJ Scott’s website. I’ve got a very special and exclusive to The Novel Approach set of giveaways coming up from the authors who’ve participated with me in the tour, and to get the party started, I’ll be offering a little giveaway of my own, so be sure to watch for it.

In the meantime, here’s what’s coming up!

Monday – Mickie B. Ashling kicks off the week on her Cutting Cords Series Blog Tour, with a giveaway

EM Lynley also helps us get the week started off right with a little taste of her new novel Spaghetti Western, and she’s also offering a giveaway

Tuesday – Charley Descoteaux is our guest today on the The Nesting Habits of Strange Birds Blog Tour and giveaway

JL Merrow also stops by on the Caught Blog Tour, and she’s offering a giveaway

Wednesday – Scott Alexander Hess, author of Bergdorf Boys and Diary of a Sex Addict will be with us today, with an interview and giveaway

Thursday – Brandon Witt joins us with a cover reveal of his upcoming novel Then the Stars Fall and an interview

Friday – Ethan Day takes a break from all his GayRomLit organizing duties today to join us with a Countdown to GRL Celebration Blog Tour Guest Post

Saturday – Merry Farmer is our guest today on the Somebody to Love Blog Tour, with a Giveaway

Viki Lyn also visits on the Blue Skye Blog Tour, with a Giveaway

Sunday – Finally, to close out our week, Melissa Collins winds things down on the Let Love Live Blog Tour, with a giveaway

Considering I’m someone who doesn’t like large crowds or parties, I’m a little over the moon about attending GRL for the first time this October. I’d dreamed of being a published author since high school (let’s pretend that wasn’t that long ago), and the past two years since seeing that dream become a reality have been full of many firsts. Acquiring a spot at GRL, seeing my name listed with many wonderful authors was one of those surreal I’m making it, I’m actually making it! moments. There are so many authors, bloggers, and readers that I’m dying to meet. And that is saying something for me. I tend to be one of those who only likes very small groups of tried and true friends. Although I know it’s not perfect, and I probably still have on rose-colored glasses, after coming from the church world and the politics of the education world, our little universe of M/M writers and readers has been so welcoming and supportive. Truly, you all are an astounding and loving group of freaky people. You’re beautiful, and I can’t wait to meet as many of you as possible.Continue reading →

“The adrenaline and stress of an adventure are better than a thousand peaceful days.” ― Paulo Coelho

Title: Clashing Tempest (Men of Myth: Book Three)

Author: Brandon Witt

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Pages/Word Count: 350 Pages

Rating: 5 Stars

Blurb: Finn de Morisco knows he is walking into a trap when he enters the Vampire Cathedral to rescue his sister Cynthia. Aided by Schwint and his other sister, Caitlin, he intends to free Cynthia and avoid enslavement. But when he confronts the master of the Voice that has tortured him, Finn faces a grim choice: compromise his soul or lose his family.Continue reading →

Like this:

“We all want to be extraordinary and we all just want to fit in. Unfortunately, extraordinary people rarely fit in.” ― Sebastyne Young

Not many sequels can match their predecessor or even surpass them. But I think Rising Frenzy might have done the job! Rising Frenzy is everything that a sequel should be: exciting, engrossing, sexy and most of all, really good! Brandon Witt hit this one out of the park. Loved this book!

“There is no getting away from the past or from one’s destiny.” ― Laxmi Hariharan

Where to begin?? Let me start off with saying that I loved this book!!! I am very picky when it comes to fantasy books. I do enjoy a story set in different worlds but I think my favorite would be a contemporary world set on its axis. A world where the supernatural lives along with the ordinary. Where witches are bakers and a demon is a life guard. Since it’s the first book in the Men of Myth series, I’m excited to see what happens next in the two books.

The story revolves around Brett Wright and Finn DeMorisco. Brett is your average walking and talking gorgeous god. He thinks he’s normal except for the fact that the only time he finds peace is when he’s in the water swimming. He was raised by his devoutly religious grandmother and an atheist grandfather. His mother was never in the picture. Later in the book the back-story of his family is revealed, and he gets answers why his family is the way they are. His coming out created a rift and his grandfather kicked him out. We first meet Brett at his grandfather’s funeral. He is not there as a guest or a member of the family. He’s in the shadows because he believes that no one wants him there. The funeral is a turning point in Brett’s life. Brett begins to experience weird things which he can’t explain, the feeling of being watching when he’s in the water and set the water on fire.

Finn DeMorisco is a baker and a warlock. We don’t get to know him that well at first but there’s a sense that he’s a good guy, who is a little insecure.

The first meeting between them is a quasi blind date which does not go as planned. Brett gets entranced by a vampire and dismisses Finn. Finn takes offence because he does not realize that Brett is under the vampire’s control. Finn is unable to stop the attack on Brett. This event pushes Brett over the edge and his “powers” come out. He’s thrust into a magical world that he never knew existed. This starts the chain of events that sets both Brett and Finn on their quest of discovery. What is Brett and why does the vampire want him?

Finn and his family become Brett’s guides in this strange new reality and more. Brett gets a taste of what a real close family is like. Because of his own lonely childhood, he’s fascinated buy the big family but at the same time is afraid that’s what Finn wants and he’s not sure he can give it to him. Along the way there is heartache, love and more heartache. Brett and Finn give into their mutual attraction, which starts slowly, but then moves pretty fast. They are meant to be together. I thought the interaction between the two was very well written. There was humor and angst. When one was weak, the other was strong. The sex between the two characters was sweet and hot even if it was a bit predictable. But than again, who doesn’t like when two hot guys get together? The encounter between Brett and the vampire was not consensual. So be warned.

A large cast of supporting characters added color and background to a well written and rounded story. There where witches, warlocks, vampires, werewolves, nymphs, mermen and demons. I’m curious to see how the later books flesh out these various characters. I enjoyed this book and if you like contemporary mixed with fantasy, this book is perfect for you.